Last Updated:
The BJP-led government’s talks with Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil, who has been demanding reservation for all Marathas, failed to yield a breakthrough.
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and Maratha activist Manoj Jarange. (PTI)
Talks between Maratha rights activist Manoj Jarange-Patil and a Maharashtra government delegation failed to yield any breakthrough on the second day of Jarange’s indefinite hunger strike demanding reservation for all Marathas under the Other Backwards Classes (OBC) category.
Jarange, who is demanding that all Marathas be granted reservation under the Other Backwards Classes (OBC) category, insisted on continuing his agitation at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan, which severely disrupted traffic across Mumbai. Thousands of his supporters continued to throng the nearby Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and the surrounding area.
Recommended Stories
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis reiterated that the government was trying to find a solution within the constitutional and legal framework, while Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra faction) chief Sharad Pawar said a constitutional amendment to raise the cap on overall reservation was necessary.
What Happened During Talks?
The BJP-led government deputed a delegation led by retired High Court judge Sandeep Shinde, who heads a committee set up to expedite the process of granting reservation to the Marathas, to hold talks with Jarange, who described his agitation as the “final fight” for his community to get reservation.
Jarange said the committee headed by Shinde had studied gazettes related to the issue for the past 13 months, and now it was time for it to submit its report to pave the way for Marathas to get Kunbi status – an agrarian caste included in the OBC category.
“Marathas in Marathwada must be declared as Kunbis and given reservation. The Hyderabad and Satara gazettes must be made into law for this,” he said. However, the former judge said he was not authorised to present such a report, and it was upto the Backward Class Commission.
Jarange Slams Fadnavis
Jarange later slammed Fadnavis for sending Justice Shinde to hold talks with him. “It is not Justice Shinde’s job to issue a GR (government resolution)declaring that Marathas and Kunbis as the same. It is an insult by the government, Raj Bhavan and the state to send Justice Shinde here.”
Earlier, Jarange asked the government not to spread misinformation that the Marathas were seeking reservation from the OBC quota. “We are only demanding that we get our rightful share of quota based on the eligibility under the Kunbi category,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Maratha activist also alleged that the city administration deliberately denied basic amenities to protestors. However, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation insisted that it had provided necessary amenities at the protest site.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil stated that the concerns raised by Jarange were thoroughly discussed by the cabinet sub-committee and assured that the government is committed to addressing them in a positive manner.
(with inputs from PTI)
About the Author
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international…Read More
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international… Read More
Loading comments…
Read More
